2013/2014 XC Ski Thread
- Thread starter axcxnj
- Start date
In my opinion XC ski stuff does not change that must over time. My first 25 years were on the same equipment, and they did fine. The boots literally fell apart, but can be upgraded. I say jump in and go for it. You will benefit most from quality boots, and that may not happen in a package deal, just think upgrade. 3 pin bindings are less stable compared to NNN binding. If you need to upgrade binding, they are cheap.
Please buy skis, so this snow will melt. ... and don't come to my house, because my driveway is an ice rink and there is no more salt left in NJ. 🙄
Please buy skis, so this snow will melt. ... and don't come to my house, because my driveway is an ice rink and there is no more salt left in NJ. 🙄
I'm not a metal edge guy, I like lighter faster skis. If conditions get bad enough that i need a metal edge I can take my skate skis to a groomed center. I'm Looking at these.
http://www.skirack.com/browse.cfm/atomic-xcruise-59-nordic-skis-2014/4,18063.html
I'm a fan of trying boots on before I buy. Every manufacter sizing runs slighly different and boots fit people differently based on their foot. You can try going to Campmor, Neals or an REI or EMS if they are near you.
http://www.campmor.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CNGep9q01LwCFStnOgodsmoAVg
https://www.google.com/maps/place/N...data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x5b5b439c5fb6c69
Thanks. Yeah, I may check one or more of those places. I actually did try these on and they seemed perfect but it's always hard to predict how they'll end up being after a couple of hours on the trails.
Whoa...Back the truck up! XC technology has changed drastically over the last 3 years especially. I will tell you guys that IME Rossi boots always have heel pocket wiggle. I've been pre-duct taping my heels and have had no blister probs as of late. I'll probably be goin to some Alpina Alaskas unless the shop gets the Madshus line next year. Madshus' new trail stuff is lookin sick. Also when these ski descpritions say off track please realize it means outside the groomed rails at a resort. You ain't gonna have any fun in real snow. I trail ski where I bike and it's free. BC NNN or die!!😀
Don't mess withmeIggy
I got a text from the ranger at Thompson that they needed a hand grooming the xc ski trails... so thats what I did today. The snow was soft so it was easy to groom, I put a skate lane next to the classic tracks, since I'm a skate skier😀
By the time I got out in the afternoon on my skate skis the temps were well over 40 degrees, making for slow-slush conditions. At this point I decided to bail on skating and went into the rental shop and grabbed a pair of classic skis, since I have not replaced my classic skis I broke.
It was still slow going in the soft snow even with traditional kick and glide. There is a little single track in the woods that the snow shoe-rs beat down. This was the place to ski today, the snow was not as wet under the trees but soft enough to steer and step turn in. Its always good to have options based on snow conditions.
Ski Dimensions: 52/48/50; No metal edge; No problem
I went to Mahlon on Saturday and it was rough. I started at the park and ride and there were some tracks headed toward the single track descent down to the rail bed, so I followed them. It was great following them, but they stopped a bit short of the power lines. I got lost in the single track once or twice, but it was pretty good other than that. Anywhere that I was laying down the tracks was tough. You'd be on top of two inches of fresh powder, and then sink into the layer below randomly. It was still an awesome workout and great to be out on the trails. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/445615270
After that though, I had to get to High Point for some groomed trails. It's like night and day. I got there around 11:30am, and the parking lot was full. There were four vultures circling looking for spots, so it didn't look good. I saw a spot that looked too tight, but my car is small so I just went for it. I later saw a long line of cars just parked on the road. Then I saw a cop with a bullhorn yelling to not park in the street, eventhough there were dozens of cars there already. When I eventually left, they had guys with walkie talkie's directing traffic, because you couldn't get past the line of cars. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446384878
Yesterday I didn't do anything, and today I hit Tourne in Denville. The conditions were really good. Easy to get up all the hills because the snow was soft and a little melted, and going downhill was easy for the same reason. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/447483107
I'm gonna try to get back to Tourne or Mahlon tomorrow, but it looks like work might interfere.
After that though, I had to get to High Point for some groomed trails. It's like night and day. I got there around 11:30am, and the parking lot was full. There were four vultures circling looking for spots, so it didn't look good. I saw a spot that looked too tight, but my car is small so I just went for it. I later saw a long line of cars just parked on the road. Then I saw a cop with a bullhorn yelling to not park in the street, eventhough there were dozens of cars there already. When I eventually left, they had guys with walkie talkie's directing traffic, because you couldn't get past the line of cars. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446384878
Yesterday I didn't do anything, and today I hit Tourne in Denville. The conditions were really good. Easy to get up all the hills because the snow was soft and a little melted, and going downhill was easy for the same reason. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/447483107
I'm gonna try to get back to Tourne or Mahlon tomorrow, but it looks like work might interfere.
I managed to get out to Tourne after work yesterday. Conditions were really slow because of the rain and warm temps, so I took advantage and did a lot of climbing. Three trips to the top:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/448011730
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/448011730
^Good Snow(9-11am)Temps between 32-40 degrees
Yesterday I took my Cdale in to Vreeland so he can take my lefry fork off, I sent it out for service today. Every year I send it out to Craig at Mendon cycle for service. With all this snow now is the time to do it.
I did get out today before the snow turned to mush. Currently most of NJ still has plenty of snow to XC ski on, but timing is critical when to get out and enjoy it. With cold nights and warmer days the snow can be icey or slushy. Todays window of good snow conditions occured between 9-11am. Good snow meaning firm enough to push off yet still be able to steer and track a ski. I was able to skate ski with the cheap rentals I've been using. After 11am the woods are the best bet for good snow, where shade keeps snow a little cooler. This is something to keep in mind this weekend, don't get out too early or the snow will be ice, but dont go too late either otherwise conditions will be slushy slow.
So I finally pulled the trigger on Alpina Blazer boots ($77 shipped) to make my Dad's 1980s 3-pin xc skis usable. I have no idea what I'm doing but this winter was just too brutal to not take up some kinda snowsport that I can do locally. So my dad's skis are 205s. I'm 5'8" 175lbs -- are these too much for me? They seem long.
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2 things.First, metal edge BC skis works 24/7 any temp so if you're newer to the sport you don't have to be a thermal scientist. Second, you can have the newest setups for less than $400 complete, so please don't get frustrated when you try skiing on some cobbled together stuff and hate it. I think EVERY mtb'r should have an XC setup. I'd love to see you all out there. Conditions are killer right now and will be the stuff of legend by next weekend. PS I may get a full skate setup next year and hit the resorts so maybe i can get good enough to ask out a certain chick from Belarus😛
they are long for you, but you already committed to a 3-pin boot for that set up so you may as well go for it. at this point in the season i would say try out those skis and see if xc is for you. if you really love it invest in better equipment next year.
yeah, that was my thinking. Give it a shot first for $70 rather than go all-in for $400 and end up hating it. So what length skis are appropriate for me at 5'8" 175? My mom's are also in the basement and they are 195s but the base has come unglued. Probably not worth repairing those though.
A lot of xc touring skis have gone to a compact length, which allows for easier acceleration and ski handling. For your weight 185's in a compact ski would fit you. Use what you have for now, look at tutorials on youtube for how to xc ski classic style and go to a golf course or park with wide open realtively flat terrain and have at it.
OK, so going dowhill at 27 mph on skis 44mm wide, with no metal edge on ice is not the smartest thing to do. Landing in the hard crusty snow face first was like getting punched in the face by Utah Joe holding 40 grit sandpaper.
I went to the local golf course this morning at 8am to take advantage of good skating conditions. When I got there the snow was a bit stiff and ice crusted, but I knew it would soften quickly as the sun was getting higher and warming things up. Going down the steepest run before the snow got a chance to soften was a mistake. By the time I realized my skis where not griping the surface I had face planted. As I got up slowly I made sure I was not missing any teeth and began wiping blood from my face. Nothing was broken and I was not knocked out, so I knew it wasn't that bad. I skied back to the car and wiped the blood off my face.
Once cleaned up I put in a 2hr. tempo training session on my skate skis. This is my fastest mph. avg. to date. I think getting punched in the face pissed me off. Despite the fall it was still better then being on the road with my bike. I'm gonna skate ski tomorrow as well but hold off on the downhills until the snow is softer enough for me to steer.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/449594715
bigW
Well-Known Member
repost from Training thread…..
Finally managed to find XC boots that fit in stock at REI last weekend.
Looked up local places to learn to XC ski and Ashbrook golf course two miles from home was listed by Union County….
Last Sunday had a great first day of attempting to XC ( only fell and cratered through the crust twice )
On Monday went to Lord Stirling Park ( Great Swamp ) and had another great day, especially when off trail where snowshoe dude had not trashed the trail.
Used an old Garmin GPSMap 60CSx and was able to convert to GPX.
Ashbrook
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446247209
Great Swamp
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446927181
Ah good stuff now I am ready to be able to mix in some XC when conditions are not good for biking….
- W
Finally managed to find XC boots that fit in stock at REI last weekend.
Looked up local places to learn to XC ski and Ashbrook golf course two miles from home was listed by Union County….
Last Sunday had a great first day of attempting to XC ( only fell and cratered through the crust twice )
On Monday went to Lord Stirling Park ( Great Swamp ) and had another great day, especially when off trail where snowshoe dude had not trashed the trail.
Used an old Garmin GPSMap 60CSx and was able to convert to GPX.
Ashbrook
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446247209
Great Swamp
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/446927181
Ah good stuff now I am ready to be able to mix in some XC when conditions are not good for biking….
- W
